Harp fork



Nov. 24, 1925- 1,563,141

M. ASLANIAN HARP Foxk Filed' July 25, 1924 Patented Nov. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES MICHAEL ASLANIAN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

HARP FORK.

Application filed July 25, 1924. `,Serial No. 728,110.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, MICHAEL ASLANIAN, a citizenof Armenia, residing at Los AngeV les, `in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in I-Iarp Forks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stringed musical instruments, and more particularly it reN lates to harps.

An object of this invention is the provision of a hand-operated device which may be placed on a stringed musical instrument, such as a harp, for example, to shorten at will a string of the instrument, a plurality of the devices being used-one for each string of the instrument.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a very inexpensive device for the cheaper classes of harps, the device being used to shorten a string of the harp so as to raise the pitch of the string a semi-tone, and the device being adapted as a substitute for the expensive foot-operated mechanism now employed on the more costly harps..

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, this invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a harp of conventional type, showing devices of my invention positioned on the neck of the harp, each device being adapted to engage a string of the harp,

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of my device which may be called a fork, the same being shown in open or active position,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the device in closed or inactive position,

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation of the neck of the harp, showing my device positioned thereon but in inactive position,

Fig. 6 is a view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1, and corresponding to the view shown in Fig. 4, but showing the fork in the position in which it shortens a string, and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the fork engaging a string.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description thereof, the numeral 10 and against which the strings 12a rest. The

device Yor fork of my invention is clearly shown in Fig. 2 and comprises a back plate 14 having longitudinally thereof an elongated slot 15 and provided with side flanges 16, in the upper end of, and between, which is mounted a rotatable lever 17 beveled at its free end,` as shown at 18 in Fig. 3, and having a groove 19 formed in the bevel 18. The lever 17 is provided with an arcuate handle 20. The back of the plate 14 may be provided with teeth 22, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. v

In positioning the fork, it is to be secured below the bridges 13 to the neck 11 by screw 24 passing through the slot 15, the fork being positioned so that the length of the slot 15 is vertical and so that the lever 17 is uppermost. It will be seen that the teeth 22 on the back of the 'fork are pressed into the neck and assist in holding the fork securely in position. The slot 15 is longer than the diameter of the screw 24 so that the fork may be adjusted exactly to the position required to raise the pitch of a string a semi-tone, when the lever is moved to a horizontal position and the string 12a engages the groove 19 of the lever. The device may be thrown into, or out of, engagement with a string, by manually turning the lever 17 by the handle 20.

It will thus be seen that I have provided for a harp a fork for shortening a string so as to raise the pitch of the string a half tone, the fork being adapted to be thrown into, or out of, engagement with a string by hand, and that the fork is adjustable longitudinally of the string so that it may be placed in exactly the right position.

While I have herein described one form of my invention, modifications ythereof' may be devised without departing from the spirit thereof, and it is to be understood that such modifications come within the scope of this invention.

I/Vhat is claimed is:

1. A harp fork for shortening a string j upon the neck of a harp, said means providing anl adjustment of the lever longitudinally of a string.

2. A har fork for shortening a string and adapte to be thrown into or out yof .position by hand, said fork adapted to be adjustable longitudinally of a string of the harp.

3. A harp fork for shortening a string and adapted to 4bethrovvn into or out `olf position by h'and, said fork adapted to be 'adjustable longitudinally of string of fthe harp, and comprising a baek platey having a slot longitudinally'thereof 'and having 'outwardly extending side l'anges and a 'lever mounted "in and between v'said 'flanges 4;. A harp forli for shortening a string and 'adapted to befthrown into 'or vout of position yby hand, said forl 'adapted to beadjustable longitudinally of 'a' 'string 'of the harp, .and comprisin a baek plate having a slot longitudinally t ereo'l' and having 'outwardly extending side vflanges ,and a. Vlevel' mounted in vand 'between ysaid `flanges, said lever having 'a Agroove to engage a stri'nfg 'of a harp.

5. A harp fork for shortening a string and adapted to `be thrown into or out ot position by hand, said forli adapted lto be adjustable longitudinally of a string of the harp, and oomprisin'ga lback plate having a slot longitudinally thereof and having outw'ardly extending side flanges yand a lever mounted vin and between said flanges, said lever having a` groove "to engage a string of a harp, and provided with a handle.

6,. A harp fork for "shortening a string irand adapted tojbe thrown' into or out of position -b'y hand, said fork adaptedto be adji'istable longitudinally of a stri'ngl'of the harp, and 'comprising 'a back plate having a slot longitudinally thereof and v'having outwardly extending 'side tflanges Aand a lever mounted 'in and between said llanges, said lever having a groove to engage a string of a harp, and provided with a handle, 'said back plate having teeth on the back face thereof. p

In 'testimony whereof I have signed my 'naine to this sp'eoieation. i

M. ASLAN 

